My Missing Puzzle Piece (Creekside Falls #1)

by Kristin Hoepfl

  The other twenty people cooperated though; Elle came to the conclusion that they all liked Trevor and thought he was a good boss but didn’t care much for Rob. She did remember he could be cocky as hell back in the day, and he tended to put people off because of that, but his personality problems didn’t mean he was guilty of anything. She had some new insight but really didn’t have a lot of brand new information or leads.

  Before she left Elle stopped by Trevor’s office and found him just walking in.

  “I finished talking with everyone,” Elle said as she followed him in his office and shut the door, she plopped down in a chair and blew out a breath, glad that part was over.

  “How did it go?” Trevor asked.

  “It went good, but we still have nothing to go on. Becky walked out halfway through and Rob basically refused to talk to me, but the good news is that your guys love you. I was thinking we should see if anyone emails Max or anybody else to let them know I talked to them and that you know what’s going on.”

  “I’m glad my people like it here; I’ve worked hard to have a good rapport with them. But what’s the deal with Becky and Rob, that makes them look like they have something to hide. I’ll call my IT guy again and have him put out an alert on email; if anything goes out he’ll know and tell you.” Trevor rounded his desk and sat down before saying, “I talked to Max earlier by the way.”

  “You did?” Elle sounded surprised.

  “Yeah, I figured I’d call and see how he was and see if he mentioned anything.”

  “Did he?” Elle asked.

  “No not a word, but he did ask if Becky was seeing anyone.”

  “Guess that didn’t help anything, did it?” Elle asked, concern filling her voice.

  “Not even a little.”

  Thursday Elle wasn’t at Trevor’s office because she needed to make notes in their files of what his employees had told her. She had to think of a way to verify for sure it was the people they suspected and at this point her list hadn’t changed, Becky, Rob and Max. She had different angles to consider since Rob was in the field, Becky was in the office and of course Max was away from it all. She also threw other people in the mix to understand what they did to see if they could possibly play any role in this. She couldn’t rule anyone but Jake and Jack out at this stage. What frustrated her was the lack of any real evidence, up to this point everything was circumstantial and that could get Trevor a lawsuit if he made an accusation without real proof of wrongdoing.

  She did find out the batch of invoices that didn’t match their corresponding sales orders were all just a computer-generated glitch, the customers ended up receiving the correct invoice for the services they had received. So there went that portion of her theory.

  Her day was crazy from the minute she walked in the door. Taylor had an appointment with another client and had to go meet them but called Elle in need of help. The problem wasn’t just that the board of a home health-care staffing agency on the outskirts of town had been firing people without cause, but the company president was rumored to be having an affair with both his secretary and an intern. This kind of job usually kept them busy for at least two months; they had to bring in outside investigators and do three times the work than for a case like Trevor’s. She did have to admit on her way out of the office, that she loved these complicated clients.

  Elle was sitting at her desk later in the day and thought of how things had gone for her up until now. Growing up in Creekside she knew she wanted to end up here but didn’t think it would have been possible so soon after college. Considering the long road between school, the job hunt, the awful first job and finding her path afterwards she had made some big steps in a short time. Here she was back home with her own business at twenty-five. She felt totally happy for the first time in a while; she had more than she thought she would have five years ago. She had her business, family, friends, and a guy she was head over heels in love with. In love…she prayed he was too.

  Trevor’s day was flying by; he had meetings in the morning with potential clients, he landed all of them. It always gave him such a huge boost to bring in new clients regardless if the jobs were big or small. Each one counted, plus he had been really lucky because all of his clients were really nice people; even those who had a hard time making up their minds or had difficult issues to handle. The rest of his day was spent checking on his teams; he put a lot of miles on his truck every day but this was what kept his employees happy, his personal touch. They were scattered all over, which wasn’t unusual, but these were all big-time clients and big money. He wanted to be extra sure they didn’t need any help or more equipment and that their scheduled place and time was correct.

  Late that afternoon, Trevor was sitting at his desk catching up on paperwork and billing. He started thinking about where he was at only twenty-eight, a lot of people didn’t have a clue what they wanted to do or where they were going at his age, but he felt settled and solid. He had a successful, growing business, he was almost done with his associate’s degree, had good friends and family and most importantly the woman he loved in his life. If someone had asked him ten years ago if this was where he’d be at twenty-eight he would have laughed and said, “Hell no, are you crazy?!”

  Elle heard back from Trevor’s IT guy that Max received emails from Becky about the interviews. She pulled out her phone and called Trevor, he answered on the third ring, “Hi.”

  “Hi, do you have a minute?” Elle asked.

  “Sure, what’s going on?”

  “Your IT guy just called me to tell me that Max did get an email about the interviews.

  “He did, from who?” Trevor asked.

  “Well from Becky she emailed him saying that I was there talking to people about sabotage at the company and that you knew everything.”

  “Did Max say anything back?”

  “His answer was, ‘Ah shit he does?’”

  “Damn it! What the hell is going on?” Trevor said as he blew out a deep breath and continued, “But this doesn’t really help us much does it? Then he told her to keep him posted.”

  “It’s nothing big but now we know for sure it’s one or all of them, it’s not just our speculation. Trevor try not to worry we’ll figure this out and everything will be okay, I promise.”

  “Okay. I have to get going I have another call.”

  Taylor went to dinner at Elle’s house that night; she made homemade chili and biscuits. Elle heard her key in the front door opening and heard her call out, “I’m here and I have wine and cupcakes.”

  “Hi. Give me the wine and the cupcakes can go on the counter.” Elle said as she took the wine and started opening it.

  Once they each had a glass of wine; Taylor said, “So I heard you interrogated Jake yesterday.”

  Elle nearly choked on her wine. Coughing and breathing in deep she said, “I didn’t interrogate him! I just asked him what he knew about the sabotaging at the company. I didn’t think he actually did it.”

  Elle paused then said, “Okay I thought maybe he did at first when I saw his file but after hearing Trevor talk about him and meeting him I knew it wasn’t him.”

  Taylor just looked at Elle and then started to laugh. “I know I was only kidding, you seriously thought it could have been him?”

  “Only for a minute! Don’t kid around with me like that.” Elle said with relief.

  “He told me today when I talked to him; he even said that you better not hurt Trevor because he really cares about you.”

  “He told you he said that?” Elle asked.

  “I know I was surprised too. But don’t worry I countered with the same argument. He wants to go on a date with me; he said we could even go as friends if I wanted to. I’m not sure I can.”

  “Tay you can, you like him and he likes you, surprisingly enough he basically told me that yesterday. But then I told him not to hurt you either. A real date or a just-as-friends date won’t hurt either of you. Although I do get why you’re not sure if you
can do it.”

  “He told you he liked me? I figured he did but him telling someone else makes it seem so different and so…real. Should I go with him?” Taylor said feeling unsure about it.

  “If you want to then yeah go and see what happens. You’ll be mad at yourself if you don’t give him a chance. And if you don’t hit it off any more than you have already, you both at least tried.”

  “You’re right. I just don’t know how to date anymore. Did I ever know how to date?” Taylor joked.

  “Yes you knew how to date, you taught me remember?” Elle said laughing as she brought the food to the table.

  “That’s right but look who I learned from -- Bill; did he even know what he was doing? The few men I’ve dated since he left were nothing like him or what I was used to, so I shied away from going out anymore.”

  “Well apparently everyone has their own way of dating, or at least that’s what Trevor keeps telling me.”

  “I don’t know if I told you, but remember Rob Sentz from high school?” Elle turned to ask Taylor.

  “Your ex-boyfriend Rob? Of course, I mean I know he wasn’t just your ex he was really more in our “group” back then. Ironically everyone always said we’d be friends forever, which sounds so corny now but I believed them. But I’m glad it’s still me and you though.” Taylor said with a smile.

  “Oh how things change. Me too, I don’t know what I would do without you.” Elle gave Taylor a quick hug.

  “So what about Rob?” Taylor was curious why his name came up; she hadn’t heard his name since they were in college.

  “He works for Trevor now, I saw him the first day I went to Trevor’s office. He has changed and apparently he is going through a messy divorce and I hate to admit this but I think there’s a chance he could be the one sabotaging the routes and schedules and if not I think he might at least be involved.”

  ‘What?! Wow! Things really do change. I always knew that Rob was cocky and kind of an ass but I never would have thought that.”

  Elle filled Taylor in on the emails with Max, Becky and Rob, the files and interviews.

  “Well if it’s not Rob then the other two seem guilty as hell too.” Taylor said as she toyed with her wine glass.

  “Trevor has no clue why anyone would do this, let alone Max.”

  “If you had to guess who do you think is doing all this?” Taylor asked.

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t think it’s all three of them but it’s possible since everything stacking up is pretty damning for them all.”

  They ate dinner catching up on work, their siblings, and silly stuff…girl stuff, just the typical stuff they seemed to always talk about but somehow never got old with them.

  “We’re never too old for cupcakes.” Elle said as she bit into hers.

  “Damn straight, why do you think I brought them?”

  “Between weekly dinners with wine and dessert and my sweet tooth, it’s no wonder I have to run to stay in my jeans.”

  “I hear that one; it’s why I am always at kickboxing. Well that and it’s fun to hit the bag plus the instructor is hot!”

  “What are you up to tomorrow night?” Elle asked

  “I was supposed to go to dinner with V, why?”

  “Because I bought a bench and new mirror for the entry way and was wondering if you wanted to help me put it together and switch out the mirrors. But go to dinner with V, I’ll do it.”

  “You sure? I could switch dinner.” Taylor suggested.

  “Yes I’m sure, don’t switch dinner with her. You were just saying the other day you guys don’t see each other as much anymore. Tell V I said hi though, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her too.”

  “You know you could always ask Trevor if he’s free to come over and help.” Taylor said with a wink.

  “I guess I could do that.” Elle smiled back at her, this time she didn’t blush at the thought of Trevor.

  Jake went to Trevor’s to watch the Phillies game and eat pizza.

  After they finished eating Jake randomly blurted out, “How do you cook?”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.” Jake said gruffly.

  “Yeah I did but what makes you curious about it all of a sudden?” Trevor said, looking at his friend like he just sprouted a third arm.

  “I asked Taylor if she wanted to go out, and I thought I might make her dinner, but you know me I either order out, eat takeout leftovers or that frozen shit. I don’t know how to cook but you seem to be little Burt Crocker over there, so help me out.”

  “Burt Crocker, really?” Trevor asked around a laugh.

  Truth was Trevor was shocked at what his best friend had just said; Jake had never talked like that about a woman before. He always cared about them and was good to them but never wanted to learn anything new for some chick.

  “Well I can only cook a few things but I can teach you. I don’t know if you know this but according to Elle, Taylor is an awesome cook…but no pressure bro.” Trevor laughed in a teasing manner.

  “Why the hell would you tell me that? No pressure, really? Shit I’m gonna screw up now for sure,” Jake said running a hand through his hair.

  “Dude, chill. You won’t. I’ll try to help you or I could ask Elle to teach you something, she’s an awesome cook too, she’ll do it because Taylor’s her best friend and she likes you.”

  “Fine. But I don’t want to ask Elle unless I have to, she would tell Taylor. Oh, by the way were you ever going to tell me she thought I might be the one sabotaging the routes and the jobs?” Jake asked.

  “Oh yeah that. I didn’t know if I should especially since she thought it for a whole two seconds when she looked at the files and then changed her mind after I explained our history.”

  “You should’ve told me but it’s not a big deal. She told me yesterday. We moved past that pretty quick and talked about other stuff.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I should’ve known it wouldn’t matter to you but I didn’t want you to start off not liking Elle.”

  “It’s cool. It probably wouldn’t have made a difference, I like her man, she’s nice and…sweet.”

  “Did you say you guys talked about other stuff? Like what?” Trevor asked.

  “Nosey much man?” Jake said with a laugh. “We talked about you, Taylor, the whole sabotage thing and some other stuff, nothing to worry about.”

  “I’m not worried but usually you hang back and don’t say much so I guess I was surprised a little.”

  “Yeah I guess I do usually hang back but recently I haven’t wanted to as much.” Jake said reluctantly.

  “Because of Taylor?”

  “Yeah I guess so, she’s something and I’m already thinking about her differently than other women, although I barely even know her. Aw hell.” Jake said he made a face.

  Trevor chuckled at his friend; he knew exactly how he felt.

  Elle was getting ready for bed when Trevor called her that night.

  “Hey, you.” Trevor said when she answered the phone “Hey, to you too.”

  “Did I get you in the middle of something?”

  “Nope, was just heading to bed.”

  “How was Thursday dinner with Taylor?”

  “You remembered?” Elle smiled as she answered, “It was fun as usual.”

  Trevor could hear Elle smiling over the phone.

  “I’m glad it was.”

  “What did you end up doing tonight?”

  “Jake and I hung out at my place and watched the Phillies.”

  “That’s fun. Did the other guys come?”

  “Nope it was just me and Jake. We didn’t have plans with them.”

  There was a minute of silence before Elle said, “Are you busy tomorrow night?”

  “No, I’m free all weekend I think, why what’s up?”

  “This is going to sound stupid but I have a bench I have to put together for the entranceway at my house and was going to hang a new mirror and was wonderin
g if you’d come help?”

  “Definitely I’ll come over and help.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes. What time do you want me to come by?” Trevor asked.

  “I should be done at work tomorrow by 5:00 so any time after that is perfect.”

  “Okay sounds good. I get done around then too. Do you want me to bring anything?”

  “No it’s fine, I was thinking of ordering Chinese, is that good with you?”

  “That’s good with me.”

  “If you want to bring Bruiser so he doesn’t stay inside too long, you can bring him over too.”

  “That’s a sweet offer. But do you really want me to bring Bruiser? You don’t have any animals.”

  “I don’t mind and my yard is fenced in and big enough for him.”

  “Okay I’ll bring him he’s actually pretty good in other people’s houses. But if you change your mind let me know.”

  “I won’t but okay.”

  Trevor laughed than said, “I’ll let you get to bed, and I’ll see you tomorrow night. Good night.” Trevor stopped himself before he let slip, “Good night, love you.”

  “See you tomorrow then. Night.”

  When Elle hung up she was all smiles and looking forward to tomorrow night. She was even excited Trevor was bringing Bruiser too. She liked dogs and the idea of a full house made her even happier; sometimes with it just being her there it was too quiet.

  hen Trevor got to Elle’s Friday night, he was inwardly amused at himself for looking forward to doing something as simple as putting together a bench and hang a mirror. Wow that was so domestic of him, but he didn’t mind.

  Elle was in the middle of putting in a load of laundry when Trevor and Bruiser arrived, a little early.

  “You’re here?” Elle said as she sucked a few breaths and looked frazzled. “Wait, let me start over. Hi.”

  “Hi. You look like you ran to the door?” She was in jeans and a long sleeve Henley with cute little bare feet and purple nail polish on her toes.

  “I did, I was putting in laundry and didn’t want you and Bruiser standing outside while I finished. Here let me take your jacket.” Elle took Trevor’s jacket and hung it in the hall closet. When she turned to face him she chuckled at his jeans and long sleeve Henley, they were dressed alike. He was also in work boots but still looked amazing.